Ashley McBryde has recently embarked on a journey of sobriety that has lasted well over a year, and if you find that surprising, you are certainly not alone. In a recent heart-to-heart conversation, Ashley opened up about her initial hesitation to discuss her journey with others. She confesses that she chose to remain silent, fearing that acknowledging it might somehow jinx her progress.

“I refrained from discussing it with anyone, even in passing, until I had crossed the one-year milestone because I was constantly plagued by the nagging thought, ‘What if I falter?'” Ashley shared. Now firmly past the 450-day mark of sobriety, she reflects on the transformation she’s undergone and the valuable lessons she’s learned about herself.

She candidly admits, “Discovering that I used to drown my feelings by going overboard all the time was a real eye-opener. Now, when I find myself in an uncomfortable situation, I’ve learned to confront it head-on. I’ll actually say out loud, ‘I know how to be uncomfortable. This conversation is tough, but I can handle it.'”

In the past, Ashley would opt for alcohol as a way to escape her emotions. She reminisces, “I used to boast, ‘You have no idea how much I can drink. I could outdrink anyone at the table.’ What a terrible thing to admit, right? It hit me that I was allowing alcohol to be a crutch because I felt too weak to face my feelings. Why resort to downing an entire bottle of anything, instead of simply allowing myself to experience and process what I was feeling?”

She hasn’t indicated whether or not this journey will end or if she plans for a lifetime of sobriety. But as more country stars tone down or fully eliminate drinking, she certainly wouldn’t be alone.

I’ve also been sober for over 5 years, so I suppose my opinion is somewhat biased.

Pat Dubois